The People – Culture and Traditions

Luo People – Culture and Traditional Festivals

The Luo of Kenya are a Nilotic ethnic group native to Western Kenya. The Luo are the fourth largest ethnic group in Kenya. Visitors to Kisumu can engage in Music as a cultural activity. Traditionally, music was the most widely practiced art in the Luo community. At any time of day or night, music would be made. Music was not played for its own sake. Music was functional, being used for ceremonial, religious, political, or incidental purposes.

Culture & Languages

English is one of two official languages of Kenya, the other being Kiswahili. Most people in Kisumu are trilingual and are also fluent in Dholuo, the local language of the Luo, Kenya's fourth largest ethnic group to which 90% of Kisumu residents belong. Due to its growth since the advent of devolution, there has been a recent increase in other local ethnic groups within the city.

Religion

Christianity in Kisumu

The local religion is mainly Christianity. Christianity was brought first in the end of 19th c. by Anglicans. They are still, together with Legio Maria, predominant in the city. Kisumu is also a see of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu. The population is largely Luo people. In 2016 in the total of 2,684,974 inhabitants there were 1,498,037 baptized Catholics i.e. 55.8% of the population. In the Siaya County over 70% of the population are Catholics.

Hindus, Muslims

Kisumu is also largely populated by the Indian Community and there's several temples to choose from. Like any other town in Kenya, Muslims are very common in Kisumu as well.